No, we are not talking about the angry text to your boss after he asks you to come in on Saturday, or the late night text to an ex-girlfriend or boyfriend. The one text message you will regret sending is one that could cause serious injuries. Beginning August 27, 2013, texting to a driver could make you liable for a car crash at which you were not even present. An Appellate Court in New Jersey recently found that “the sender of a text message can potentially be liable if an accident is caused by texting, but only if the sender knew or had special reason to know that the recipient would view the text while driving and thus be distracted.”

Must You Stop Sending Text Messages Completely For Fear of Potential Liability?

No, but you should be aware of this new, possible exposure to liability for texting under certain circumstances. Even though the Court created this new possible liability, the sender of the text message in the recent Appellate Division case of Kubert v. Best was actually found not liable in the following circumstances: she sent a text message to her friend approximately 30 seconds before he crossed over the center line of the road; he struck a husband and wife who were riding a motorcycle; each motorcyclist lost a leg. The Court found that “a person sending text messages has a duty not to text someone who is driving if the texter knows, or has special reason to know, the recipient will view the text while driving.” However, the Court concluded that the texter in the Best case did not have a reason to know that the driver would read the texts while driving (despite finding that the texter and the driver had sent over 62 texts back and forth on the day of the accident, and the sender, like most teenagers these days, admitted to sending around 100 texts a day).

Texting and Calling While Driving Is Targeted in New Jersey…

New Jersey law prohibits sending text messages or using a non-hands free phone while driving. Another law makes it a crime to cause someone personal injuries as a result of using your cell phone while driving. Now, texters in New Jersey who are not evendriving should be aware of this possible new liability for texting someone who may be driving. Unfortunately, the Court did not tell us how a texter will know if the driver will actually view the text message while driving.

Each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Do your part to decrease those statistics, and be mindful of whom you are texting. As you can see, New Jersey laws and court decisions restrict texting in certain circumstances to minimize the dangers associated with living in a mobile society.

Brian Hall is an Associate with the Law Firm of Hoffman DiMuzio, a full service law firm with offices in Woodbury, Turnersville, Franklinville, Mullica Hill, and Sewell, NJ. He practices primarily in the areas of Workers’ Compensation, Social Security and Employment Law.

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For more than 40 years, Mr. Hoffman has protected the interest of his clients through diligence and hard work on legal matters, both large and small. An honors graduate of Rutgers University Law School and a native of Gloucester County, Mr. Hoffman has won numerous accolades for excellence in the practice of law.

An attorney with over 45 years of professional experience, Mr. DiMuzio concentrates his practice on personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. A graduate of Georgetown University Law School and a native of Gloucester County, Mr. DiMuzio has been honored time and again for his professionalism and ethics in the practice of law.

About Ernest L. Alvino, Jr. concentrates his practice in the area of workplace injuries; construction accidents; product injuries; trucking accidents; auto injuries; medical negligence and crime victim advocacy. Ernie is a lifelong Gloucester County resident, living in Mullica Hill with his wife and children. Ernie worked his way through school as a Teamster and construction…

About Mr. Atkins joined the firm of Hoffman DiMuzio in February 2010. Mr. Atkins represents individuals and corporate clients in commercial and employment litigation. Mr. Atkins’ practice covers a wide variety of employment-related matters before New Jersey State and Federal courts, with a focus on discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, family leave and whistleblowing claims. Mr.…

About Mr. Bonfiglio concentrates his practice in the area of municipal court with an emphasis on defense of individuals charged with driving while intoxicated and/or refusal to submit to a breath test. Pete resides in Gloucester Township, Camden County with his wife and two of his three children. In addition to his law practice, he…

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